Osteology of Mesozoic Life

Allison Tumarkin-Deratzian, Temple University, altd@temple.edu

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection. (view details)

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Scientific Accuracy
Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
Pedagogic Effectiveness
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Initial Publication Date: March 21, 2014 | Reviewed: June 24, 2014 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

This activity explores vertebrate paleontology/paleobiology of the Mesozoic. It focuses on dinosaur osteology using skeletons and models at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia. Students will compare the morphology of several types of bones between a variety of ornithischian and saurischian dinosaurs.

Paleoecology | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16), Graduate/Professional

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Context

Audience

This activity is appropriate as part of the curriculum of a course for undergraduates majoring in or graduate students focusing on paleontology, evolutionary biology, paleobiology, or a related area.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

In order to complete this activity, students must have a basic knowledge of vertebrate anatomy and terminology, and dinosaurian phylogeny (e.g. ornithischians vs saurischians). They must work in a group to critically compare and categorize bones. Detailed note-taking and sketching may also be used.

How the activity is situated in the course

This activity can act as a stand-alone exercise, but students must be familiar with the concepts mentioned above to adequately complete it. It is best used as an exercise in the use of already known anatomical terms and as preparation for more in-depth studies of specific bones.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

applying concepts learned in the classroom to real specimens: comparative anatomy, functional anatomy, phylogeny based on morphology

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

quantitative and qualitative observation, application of abstract concepts to concrete examples, critical thinking, deduction, comparison and categorization

Other skills goals for this activity

consensus building in a group, use of proper terminology, note-taking, sketching

Description and Teaching Materials

Directions and questions are attached. Students will not need any materials beyond a means to record and turn in their answers.
Academy of Natural Sciences Activity (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 17kB Nov27 12)